Machine Quilting, Tutorials, Quilts of Valor, and A Lot of Quilts!
Very interesting read, and very interesting way the family interacts with each other.
I got a new panel. and I had to drive all over the world. and while I drove... I planned.....
( the driving was because a kids car decided not to work... nothing fun, just so you don't get jealous)
and when I got home, I sat down and started playing and what I laid out.... I liked!
I get a lot of emails about the Eagle Quilt of Valor in my header, and they all ask if there is a pattern. and... there is not... but this is how I start.
I put the panel on the center of my design wall, and I lay blocks out around it, and then I start stitching. Then when I figure out the sizes of the coping strips that are missing, I cut those and keep assembling.
The sizes of these blocks are 9 1/2 inches. I can do 9 1/2 inch block math - and will probably come up with a top and bottom border to make this a little more than the 72 inches is is planning on being in this photo.
This was my first idea - and While I still like it - I really like the dark blue as a frame - it looked chunky to me, So I moved blocks around, and I think the way I moved them sorta elongated the quilt.... even thought the size will remain the same...
Alright - Back to stitching... my goof of days are getting shorter...
Linking to: Design Wall monday Monday Making
Hope your Thanksgiving was a wonderful time!! I always have fun with my family - so its all good!!
I was spending a little time ( okay a lot... sigh) reading all my favorite blogs and I stopped in at Sew Fresh Quilts... and she had the CUTEST Santa quilt.... and lo and behold - she wrote the pattern for it - and I wanted it!
So I got it!!
And then - I sat right down and got to stitching it!!!
I Decided tho... I really wanted Phat Santa Placemats - so that is what I made!! and of course, since Thanksgiving is over... I have permission to decorate... they are on the table now!!
Is he just not the cutest little thing - in his happy plaid? I love him!!! Head over to Sew Fresh Quilts to get the pattern!!
Now it is your turn to tell us what you have Finished!! ( or not)
Alright - if you are like me, you are cooking today, or prepping pies... or something - so that keeps you from all other chores.... while something is cooking ... you can whip up this block ... right? haha!!
We are not doing the large family gathering... just the family I have... but that is 6 people - so you know what... Pumpkin Pie, and Turkey is definitely warranted! and we do have a lot to be thankful for!!
on to the block!
Happy Half Square BLOCK TWENTY THREE
Hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow. My family doesn't know this yet - but we are hosting our own *Family Turkey Trot* ! The dog and I have mapped out a 5K course on the ranch, made sure the gates open the right way for our turns... and we are earning our Pumpkin pie!!
A few years ago my Guild hosted a UFO challenge, and I gleefully said... I can not participate... I do not *have* UFOs.... if only they could see me now.... *sigh*
Remember last week? I said I found a box... well... I did... and in it were 3 blocks and parts of blocks and a BOOK!
Glad the book was there - reminds me of what the project was...
But then I posted on my guild page - Hey does anyone remember when we took that Square in a Square class... and someone said 2004 and I went - oops!!! I have a UFO!! AND!! Apparently I have had it for a long time... Oh boy.....
UFO NO MORE!!!
Of course it need quilting...But I can do that!!! ha ha!!
Fingers crossed that was the ONLY UFO I have... but no promises... raising kids fries your brain....
( PS - the book was Square in a Square from Jodi Barrows)
Linking to:
Monday Making at love laugh quilt
Design Wall Monday at Small QUilts and Doll Quilts
Happy Friday!!!
If you follow me for more that just Fridays - you will know that we just wrapped up our Mystery A11 .... and because I really really really wanted mine done before I wrote the pattern.... I did it!! and!! I kept it a secret!!
I am so good at secrets these days... you have NO idea..... haha!!
So here is my Finish....
And now it is your turn!! did you know there were 35 finishes last week? We quilters know how to hunker down right??
Show us what you have Finished ( or Not)
Welcome to the END of the Mystery!!!
I will be excited to hear if you solved it ahead of time? or if you had an idea? or if you just made the clues and relaxed - knowing it would be solved at some time???
I told you it will be finished before Thanksgiving - its a week before... its all good right? and if you are a Bonnie Hunter fan ( I mean! who is not??) you are all finished and ready to start in on her mystery!!
First off, remember I told you that QOV had some backlogged requests in certain states? If you would like this quilt to go to that - email CalltoAction@ QOVF .org - and they will tell you where it should go.
Second off... THIS is NOT my original design!!
Years ago when I joined Mystery Quilts 4 Military , Nancy and Judy ( PatchworkTimes.com) were hosting the the mysteries ( before I took over) and one of the first mysteries I stitched with them - was one designed by Judy.
The size was a bit smaller - as the size requirements were smaller. So earlier this year I reached out to her - and said - Can I please steal your Quilt and re-size it to today's QOV requirements, and run it as a mystery? and she didn't even hesitate - she said GO FOR IT!
And so! I did!!!
So this Mystery is with Thanks to Judy!!
So here it is....the finish... the reveal..... the FINAL CLUE!!
See you tomorrow for Finished or Not Finished Friday!!
Happy Half Square Block 22
I originally thought to make this one just scrappy - maybe 16 different colors - and I may still try that at a later date. but! When I colored it with my pencils - i just didn't care for it all scrappy. So if you do make it that way - shoot me a photo... make me really want to make another one!
Then - because all of these will eventually become a Quilt of Valor ( or 6) I chose a Half and Half color selection - I like this one!
Here is your little drawing - just in case you need it ;-)
Oh My Stars!!! I have another MUST read book for you!!
It is called
The Last Correspondent
Written by Soraya M Lane
Surprisingly Amazon Recommended it for me, and they were dead on!! ( Unlike their movie recommendations for me haha)
This book is about a Female Photo Journalist and a Female reporter during WWII. Their claim to fame in the book , is that they beat the male reporters to the story on Omaha Beach - and it is cool!
This is Historical Fiction - but!! the main characters are based on Three real life women. ONE of them really did beat the men to shore and watched the drama unfold ( Normandy) before the male correspondents even made it to the event.....
Enjoy!!!!
My summer Mystery has grown... I tried quite a few ideas to make it bigger, but.... I didn't like all of them... I thought about adding other blocks, making a piano key border.... maybe using half squares....
And this.... is what I finally came up with!
Linking to:
Design Wall Monday at Small quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
Inspiration Tuesday at Clever Chameleon
Happy Friday!!
This week went screaming for me!! I started a Gratitude Photo Project on the First of November - and it has just kept me hopping and on the lookout for all the good things in the world - and! I love it!
And!! I got in a LOT of quilting time!! it is that time of year where everyone is scrambling to finish their Christmas gifts - and I love Being a part of it....
So... I snuck this one in on my list this week... just because - sometimes you need a little play time!
Its the Disappearing Shoo fly!!! I have also received enough blocks to make a few more - so you will probably see another one or two in the coming year! I think a Veteran will love this one!!!
And now it is your turn!!
Show us what you have Finished ( or Not)
Just so you know.... you are so so so so close at this moment... Hope you are enjoying the process!
and have LOTS of fun!!
Welcome to Week TWENTY ONE!!
of the Happy Half Square Project!
This summer ( as in just a few months ago) my guild was looking at ways that we could all sew together remotely - and one of the ladies ( Sheree) decided to host a Mystery... of course I had to join in!!
Plus - she swore it used 5 inch squares ( remember my size 14 shoe box full of 5 inch squares?) I just had to jump in.... and so I made all the blocks, trimmed them and put them on a stack... oh boy... that stack.... it hides things ALL THE TIME!!
But I found them - and now - they are up on my design wall!
I think the blocks are only 9 1/2 inches - so I will definitely have to add borders to get it up to a Quilt of Valor size. I am thinking of maybe adding some red in there somehow - you know - Patriotic it up a bit?
On the funny side - the time has changed - and you may remember , my husband has been working from home since March. With the time change, and him never leaving... my dog and I are getting all messed up on our timing - we are finding ourselves wondering why it is dark at 5pm and no one has opened the door yet ( you know - we used to wait on Dad to get home haha) And then in the morning at 4:30 we are ready to go do chores.... its funny how much we structured our days based on everyone else coming and going.....
Linking to:
I hope your week has been so productive!!! I have had a good one, and I hope the momentum keeps right on going!!!
My finish for this week is my Greek Key top - it is all plaid... with Eagles for the borders - and you know what?
I LOVE IT!!!
And now it is your turn!!
Show us what you have Finished ( or Not)
Ohhh Quilters - we are getting closer!!
A lot of you have asked how many clues - I promised you we would be done before Thanksgiving.... and I am still promising that!! That way - you definitely have time for Pumpkin Pie !!
All right!! ARE you ready.... CLUE FOUR is here!!
here are some helpful hints that others have found
*the Clue is in the Google Drive - so if you can't get it the first time, close your browser and try again.
*if something doesn't make sense the first time - read through it again, and look at the pictures. I forget I am a very visual person - so I tend to look at photos first... so hopefully that will help you too.
* Have a ton of fun - quilts are meant to be fun and enjoyable!!
* Many of you have said that you are interested in making this quilt for the Backlog of Quilts of Valor in other states.... if you are - that is SO awesome - email Nancy at CALLTOACTION @ qovf.org
* and lastly - HAVE fun!!!!
Welcome to Week TWENTY of the Happy Half Square Project!!!!
Whoop Whoop!!! This one is like a Bullseye Block!! Or at least that's what I see - I think it would look great scrappy too, but I really like that I stuck with the same colors for this one!
